PTT EXTERNSHIP GUIDE
Physical Therapy Technician Externship in Illinois
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on clinical experience in Illinois. Work alongside licensed Physical Therapists at top rehabilitation facilities. Illinois has 3100+ job openings with $34K average salary.
40-80
Hours Recommended
310+
PT Facilities
3100+
IL Job Openings
$34K
Avg IL Salary
$0
Externship Cost
Why Get a PTT Externship?
A Physical Therapy Technician externship gives you real-world clinical experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist aides earn a median salary of $35,330 nationally, with Illinois paying 3% below average at $34,280. Hands-on experience sets you apart from other candidates.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice patient transfers, therapeutic exercises, and equipment operation in a real clinical environment
- ✓ Build professional references from licensed Physical Therapists and PTAs
- ✓ Discover which PT setting fits you best (inpatient rehab, outpatient clinic, sports medicine, SNF)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — many facilities hire their externs
- ✓ Gain confidence working with patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, and neurological conditions
New to physical therapy? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building clinical skills and professional connections.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact rehabilitation facilities and PT clinics directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find a PTT Externship in Illinois
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a clinical externship at a Illinois rehabilitation facility.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities with PT departments:
- ✓ Outpatient PT clinics — Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, ATI, Athletico
- ✓ Rehabilitation hospitals — Northwestern Medicine
- ✓ Hospital PT departments — Advocate Aurora Health, Rush University Medical Center
- ✓ Sports medicine centers — Athletic training facilities, team clinics
- ✓ Skilled nursing facilities — Genesis, ManorCare, local SNFs
- ✓ Home health agencies — Bayada, Amedisys, LHC Group
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any fitness/healthcare experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing PTT training and seeking hands-on clinical experience"
- ✓ Highlight relevant skills — Physical fitness, patient interaction, attention to detail
- ✓ Be flexible — Offer to work their schedule, early mornings or evenings
- ✓ Dress professionally — Scrubs or business casual for in-person visits
Make Contact
Reach out to PT facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the clinic manager or rehab director
- ✓ Visit in person — Drop off resume during non-peak hours (early AM or 2-4 PM)
- ✓ Email if provided — Brief, professional, attach resume
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn PT skills
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Arrive early — Show reliability and eagerness to learn
- ✓ Ask questions — PTs appreciate engaged learners
- ✓ Take initiative — Help with equipment setup, cleaning, patient prep
- ✓ Document your hours — Keep a log for your records
- ✓ Request feedback — Ask for a reference letter before you leave
PTT Externship Sites in Illinois
These healthcare systems and facilities have PT departments that may accept extern volunteers. Contact them directly to inquire about externship opportunities.
Northwestern Medicine
Top Employer📍 Chicago
📞 312-926-2000
Premier academic medical center
View Opportunities →Advocate Aurora Health
Major System📍 Chicago Metro
📞 630-990-5000
Largest IL system
View Opportunities →Rush University Medical Center
Regional Leader📍 Chicago
📞 312-942-5000
Top-ranked academic hospital
View Opportunities →OSF HealthCare
Growing📍 Peoria/Central IL
📞 309-655-2201
Downstate Illinois leader
View Opportunities →Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Tuition Aid📍 Chicago
📞 312-238-1000
#1 ranked rehab hospital in US
View Opportunities →ATI Physical Therapy
National Chain📍 Multiple locations
📞 Contact local clinic
National outpatient PT network with locations across the state
View Opportunities →🏃 Sports Medicine & Orthopedic
- • ATI Physical Therapy — National chain with local presence
- • Athletico Physical Therapy — Sports rehab focus
- • CORA Physical Therapy — Growing regional network
- • Pivot Physical Therapy — Orthopedic specialization
- • Local university athletics — College sports medicine
🏠 SNF & Home Health
- • Genesis Healthcare — Skilled nursing facilities statewide
- • Kindred Healthcare — Post-acute care and rehab
- • ManorCare/ProMedica — Rehabilitation and skilled nursing
- • Bayada Home Health — Home health PT services
- • Amedisys — Home health and hospice
Skills You'll Learn During Your PTT Externship
A clinical externship provides hands-on experience with core PT Tech competencies that classroom training alone cannot replicate.
Patient Mobility
Safe patient transfers, gait training assistance, wheelchair mobility, and use of assistive devices (walkers, canes, crutches).
Therapeutic Exercise
Setting up exercise equipment, assisting with stretching protocols, monitoring exercise form, and tracking repetitions.
Modality Application
Hot/cold pack application, ultrasound preparation, electrical stimulation setup, and paraffin bath treatments.
Equipment Management
Treatment table preparation, equipment maintenance, supply inventory, and ensuring clean treatment areas.
Documentation Support
Recording patient attendance, tracking exercise completion, scheduling follow-up appointments, and basic EHR navigation.
Patient Communication
Professional interaction with patients, explaining exercises, providing encouragement, and reporting concerns to supervising PT.
Illinois PT Tech Market
Illinois offers unique advantages for PT Technicians:
The #1 Rehab Hospital in America
Chicago is home to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, ranked #1 in rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report for over 30 consecutive years. For PT Techs, this represents the pinnacle of the profession—working with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and amputations using technologies (robotic exoskeletons, brain-computer interfaces) unavailable anywhere else. AbilityLab experience is career-defining, opening doors to advanced positions and PTA/DPT programs nationwide.
Chicago's Academic Medicine Cluster
Chicago rivals Boston and New York as an academic medicine capital, with Northwestern, Rush, University of Chicago, and Loyola all running major medical centers within 10 miles of each other. For PT Techs, this concentration creates unique opportunity—exposure to research, complex cases, and training resources unavailable in most cities. The competition for positions is real, but so is the career development potential.
| Region | Salary Range | Externship Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago/Cook County | $36K-$46K | Highest wages, Shirley Ryan, Northwestern |
| Chicago Suburbs | $34K-$44K | Advocate Aurora dominant |
| Peoria/Central IL | $30K-$39K | OSF HealthCare hub |
| Champaign/U of I | $29K-$38K | University town, Carle Health |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PTT externships in Illinois
What makes Shirley Ryan AbilityLab exceptional for PT careers?
How different is the Chicago market from Downstate Illinois?
Is Northwestern or Rush better for PT Tech career development?
How does Illinois' aging population affect PT demand?
What PTA programs are available in Illinois?
How many hours should a PTT externship be in Illinois?
Ready to Start Your PTT Career in Illinois?
Complete your free training with EHired, then secure an externship at one of Illinois's top rehabilitation facilities. Many externs convert their experience into full-time positions.